Bistability of mixed states in a neural network storing hierarchical patterns

We discuss the properties of equilibrium states in an autoassociative memory model storing hierarchically correlated patterns thereafter, hierarchical patterns). We will show that symmetric mixed states thereafter, mixed states) are bistable on the associative memory model storing the hierarchical patterns in a region of the ferromagnetic phase. This means that the first-order transition occurs in this ferromagnetic phase. We treat these contents with a statistical mechanical method (SCSNA) and by computer simulation. Finally, we discuss a physiological implication of this model. Sugase er al (1999 Nature 400 869) analysed the time-course of the information carried by the firing of face-responsive neurons in the inferior temporal cortex. We also discuss the relation between the theoretical results and the physiological experiments of Sugase et al.